“When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.” (Acts 2:1)
Who is “they?” It may seem that the “they” Luke refers to is the 12 apostles. There were 12 now, since Matthias had been added. It is more likely that “they” refers to the whole group of 120 who had been meeting in an upper room, in a house. For 10 days they had been in prayer.
They were all together in one place on the day of Pentecost when this phenomenal spiritual event took place. The event could only have happened by their being in one place.
The whole day of Pentecost event marks a wondrous spiritual occurrence, but we should not overlook the significance of the phrase “one place.” This group of believers was in one place physically, of course, but they were also in one place spiritually, emotionally, socially, and volitionally. This fledgling church was united. Just as this event required them to be in one place physically, it also required that they be in one place in terms of their spiritual, emotional, social, and volitional unity.
Maybe the unity of a church, born of concerted prayer, is a pre-requisite for any significant work of the Holy Spirit to take place in the life of a church. That at least seems to be something of what is being said in Acts 2:1. Maybe unity needs to be more of a priority than we really understand.
Lord, Show us the way and lead us to the kind of unity that honors You and invites the unleashing of Your Spirit’s power. Amen.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Drought
“So on your account, the skies have withheld the dew and the land its crops. I have summoned a drought on the fields and the hills… and on all that your hands produce.” (Haggai 1:10-11)
God spoke through Haggai the prophet after the exiles returned to Judah. The people planted much but harvested little. They had some food, drink, and clothes, but never quite enough. The Lord said through Haggai that the reason for this was because the people had said that was not the time to rebuild the Lord’s house. The question in response was stated this way, “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” The Lord went on to say that He was the Author of the drought, and that it was brought about by their self-centeredness.
There is a great truth here we need to see. We would probably not want to turn this into an absolute principle for every situation because it was specifically related to the failure of the Judeans to rebuild the Lord’s temple, but even so there is still a principle in this event that is absolute: Supporting the Lord’s work is always a matter of committed faith.
The argument against rebuilding the temple was that they did not have the resources to do so. They felt they were just getting by themselves. They just barely had enough food, drink, and clothing. They were viewing their situation through black and white glasses, and what they needed to do was see things in color, which God provided through Haggai. The reason they were just getting by was because God sent the drought, and He did that because they were exercising fear rather than faith. They were acting in self-centered ways rather than God-centered ways. God was not calling on them to stop everything they were doing and focus only on rebuilding the temple. He was calling on them to exercise a committed faith to begin rebuilding the temple and keep at it until it was finished, while continuing to carry out their own family responsibilities. He wasn’t asking them to hurt their families. He was just calling on them to demonstrate trust.
This story had a great outcome. “Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the entire remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. So the people feared the Lord.” (verse 12) Exercising committed faith (we call that “obedience”) brings the blessings of the Lord.
Lord, Help us today to demonstrate a committed faith in our support of the work of Your kingdom. Amen.
God spoke through Haggai the prophet after the exiles returned to Judah. The people planted much but harvested little. They had some food, drink, and clothes, but never quite enough. The Lord said through Haggai that the reason for this was because the people had said that was not the time to rebuild the Lord’s house. The question in response was stated this way, “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” The Lord went on to say that He was the Author of the drought, and that it was brought about by their self-centeredness.
There is a great truth here we need to see. We would probably not want to turn this into an absolute principle for every situation because it was specifically related to the failure of the Judeans to rebuild the Lord’s temple, but even so there is still a principle in this event that is absolute: Supporting the Lord’s work is always a matter of committed faith.
The argument against rebuilding the temple was that they did not have the resources to do so. They felt they were just getting by themselves. They just barely had enough food, drink, and clothing. They were viewing their situation through black and white glasses, and what they needed to do was see things in color, which God provided through Haggai. The reason they were just getting by was because God sent the drought, and He did that because they were exercising fear rather than faith. They were acting in self-centered ways rather than God-centered ways. God was not calling on them to stop everything they were doing and focus only on rebuilding the temple. He was calling on them to exercise a committed faith to begin rebuilding the temple and keep at it until it was finished, while continuing to carry out their own family responsibilities. He wasn’t asking them to hurt their families. He was just calling on them to demonstrate trust.
This story had a great outcome. “Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the entire remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. So the people feared the Lord.” (verse 12) Exercising committed faith (we call that “obedience”) brings the blessings of the Lord.
Lord, Help us today to demonstrate a committed faith in our support of the work of Your kingdom. Amen.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Daybreak
“At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice; at daybreak I plead my case before You and watch expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3)
The events of life can build up layers of stress and duress until we feel beset by them. We find ourselves needing a place of refuge some days, a place where we find both rest and resolution. Sometimes we even feel the need to get there quick!
David had those days, and Psalm 5 seems to be one of them. In verse 3 he says that he went to the Lord at “daybreak,” and the repetition of that word reveals the urgency he felt. And, of course, seeking the Lord at daybreak reveals not only urgency but extreme need.
Urgency and need are clear in what David says, but maybe there is a parallel principle we should explore, one that could lead to a great practice. Maybe there is great benefit in seeking the Lord daily at “daybreak,” regardless of the level of duress. Daybreak is a wonderful time of the day for meeting with God and then watching as He leads us through the day. If a literal “daybreak” is difficult, then maybe “first thing in the morning” will do.
Those who seek the Lord early will find the rest of the day more joyful, for the Lord is a refuge of joy.
Lord, Today be our refuge as we early come to You. We trust Your faithful love. Amen.
The events of life can build up layers of stress and duress until we feel beset by them. We find ourselves needing a place of refuge some days, a place where we find both rest and resolution. Sometimes we even feel the need to get there quick!
David had those days, and Psalm 5 seems to be one of them. In verse 3 he says that he went to the Lord at “daybreak,” and the repetition of that word reveals the urgency he felt. And, of course, seeking the Lord at daybreak reveals not only urgency but extreme need.
Urgency and need are clear in what David says, but maybe there is a parallel principle we should explore, one that could lead to a great practice. Maybe there is great benefit in seeking the Lord daily at “daybreak,” regardless of the level of duress. Daybreak is a wonderful time of the day for meeting with God and then watching as He leads us through the day. If a literal “daybreak” is difficult, then maybe “first thing in the morning” will do.
Those who seek the Lord early will find the rest of the day more joyful, for the Lord is a refuge of joy.
Lord, Today be our refuge as we early come to You. We trust Your faithful love. Amen.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Heart Joy
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound. I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, Lord, make me live in safety.” (Psalm 4:7-8)
Having life’s basics – like food and drink and shelter – creates a sense of safety, and having them in abundance creates a sense of security, causing people to relax and rejoice. The result is “heart joy,” and that is the kind of joy that allows us to lie down and sleep in peace. We can do so because we know all is well.
So where does this heart joy come from? Is it purely a matter of having basic human needs met? David says that it come from the Lord. “YOU have put more joy in my heart,” says David. But is this arbitrary? Does it just “happen?” No. An expanded examination of Psalm 4 teaches us how it’s done.
The psalm begins with David’s prayer before God. Prayer is always the starting point on the journey to heart joy. We simply turn to God in humility and dependence. His presence then becomes the ultimate source of joy.
The next leg of the journey is knowledge. Verse 3 reads, “Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for Himself.” The knowledge or awareness that we belong to God and are set apart to Him helps us to relax in Him. Knowing that the Almighty is our refuge sets up joy.
The third leg of the journey is reflection. “Be angry and do not sin; on your bed, reflect in your heart and be still.” When we reflect on those events or people that have disturbed our “shalom,” and when we determine that we will not go the way of an angry sin response, and when in our reflections we move toward God and His sovereignty and come before Him in stillness, that is when we arrive at heart joy.
Lord, You are the Source of our heart joy. We turn to You in the midst of all that is going on in our day, or about to, and we rest in You. Amen.
Having life’s basics – like food and drink and shelter – creates a sense of safety, and having them in abundance creates a sense of security, causing people to relax and rejoice. The result is “heart joy,” and that is the kind of joy that allows us to lie down and sleep in peace. We can do so because we know all is well.
So where does this heart joy come from? Is it purely a matter of having basic human needs met? David says that it come from the Lord. “YOU have put more joy in my heart,” says David. But is this arbitrary? Does it just “happen?” No. An expanded examination of Psalm 4 teaches us how it’s done.
The psalm begins with David’s prayer before God. Prayer is always the starting point on the journey to heart joy. We simply turn to God in humility and dependence. His presence then becomes the ultimate source of joy.
The next leg of the journey is knowledge. Verse 3 reads, “Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for Himself.” The knowledge or awareness that we belong to God and are set apart to Him helps us to relax in Him. Knowing that the Almighty is our refuge sets up joy.
The third leg of the journey is reflection. “Be angry and do not sin; on your bed, reflect in your heart and be still.” When we reflect on those events or people that have disturbed our “shalom,” and when we determine that we will not go the way of an angry sin response, and when in our reflections we move toward God and His sovereignty and come before Him in stillness, that is when we arrive at heart joy.
Lord, You are the Source of our heart joy. We turn to You in the midst of all that is going on in our day, or about to, and we rest in You. Amen.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
How Happy
“How happy is the man who…” (Psalm 1:1)
Most people want to be happy. They seek happiness as if it were some kind of commodity, or something actually achievable, though. It is not achievable. Trying to obtain happiness is as elusive as chasing the wind.
Happiness is always a by-product of something else. It is the state of mind or life that results from some other life action. For example, a student makes an “A” on a test, and he or she is happy. Someone who is unemployed finds a job, and the result is happiness. A husband and wife have a child, and they are happy. Happiness is always other-action-dependent.
The greatest happiness is dependent on direction. One direction is away from God. The other is toward God. And all of us choose one direction or the other.
Those who choose the path away from God align themselves with those who have little or no regard for the things of God, and they receive their life-input from folks who are disinterested in God. Ultimately, the sin of those they follow becomes their own. They snub God, and they will never experience any genuine happiness in life.
Those who choose the path toward God enjoy thinking about and learn from and applying God’s truths. Their lives produce endless fruit, and this fruit is what we call “happiness.” Those moving away from God have no real life substance (they are like “chaff”), but those moving toward God will enjoy His blessings and will discover what real life is all about.
Lord, May we each today experience the happiness that comes from knowing You and applying Your truth to our lives. Amen.
Most people want to be happy. They seek happiness as if it were some kind of commodity, or something actually achievable, though. It is not achievable. Trying to obtain happiness is as elusive as chasing the wind.
Happiness is always a by-product of something else. It is the state of mind or life that results from some other life action. For example, a student makes an “A” on a test, and he or she is happy. Someone who is unemployed finds a job, and the result is happiness. A husband and wife have a child, and they are happy. Happiness is always other-action-dependent.
The greatest happiness is dependent on direction. One direction is away from God. The other is toward God. And all of us choose one direction or the other.
Those who choose the path away from God align themselves with those who have little or no regard for the things of God, and they receive their life-input from folks who are disinterested in God. Ultimately, the sin of those they follow becomes their own. They snub God, and they will never experience any genuine happiness in life.
Those who choose the path toward God enjoy thinking about and learn from and applying God’s truths. Their lives produce endless fruit, and this fruit is what we call “happiness.” Those moving away from God have no real life substance (they are like “chaff”), but those moving toward God will enjoy His blessings and will discover what real life is all about.
Lord, May we each today experience the happiness that comes from knowing You and applying Your truth to our lives. Amen.
Monday, January 4, 2010
God’s Reign
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; Your rule is for all generations. The Lord is faithful in all His words and gracious in all His actions… The Lord is righteous in all His ways and gracious in all His acts.” (Psalm 145:13, 17)
The reign of God is eternal. That is because He is eternal. All other kingdoms and all other governments eventually do fall, but the kingdom of God has no end. It endures forever. The Lord’s eternal rule in His kingdom is characterized is at least three ways.
The Lord is faithful in all His words. Whatever the Lord says, the Lord does. God always keeps His promises. When He gives His word, He keeps it. He does so because it is His character to be faithful to all His words.
The Lord is gracious in all His acts. Grace, love, mercy, and compassion are all descriptive of God’s nature. God does not act graciously toward us because we deserve it or because He has to, but because it is His nature to do so.
Then, the Lord is righteous in all His ways. God always does the right thing, and everything God does is right. His judgments are always right, and His ways are always right.
This God is worthy of our worship and praise and adoration. His Spirit calls us today to worship in spirit and in truth, and to then share this truth about Him with a world that gropes in the dark.
Lord, May Your light shine in and through us today as we share with our world that You are faithful to all Your words, gracious in all Your actions, and righteous in all Your ways. Amen.
The reign of God is eternal. That is because He is eternal. All other kingdoms and all other governments eventually do fall, but the kingdom of God has no end. It endures forever. The Lord’s eternal rule in His kingdom is characterized is at least three ways.
The Lord is faithful in all His words. Whatever the Lord says, the Lord does. God always keeps His promises. When He gives His word, He keeps it. He does so because it is His character to be faithful to all His words.
The Lord is gracious in all His acts. Grace, love, mercy, and compassion are all descriptive of God’s nature. God does not act graciously toward us because we deserve it or because He has to, but because it is His nature to do so.
Then, the Lord is righteous in all His ways. God always does the right thing, and everything God does is right. His judgments are always right, and His ways are always right.
This God is worthy of our worship and praise and adoration. His Spirit calls us today to worship in spirit and in truth, and to then share this truth about Him with a world that gropes in the dark.
Lord, May Your light shine in and through us today as we share with our world that You are faithful to all Your words, gracious in all Your actions, and righteous in all Your ways. Amen.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Daily
“Then He said to [them] all, ‘If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
Just before Jesus said “if anyone wants to come with Me,” He warned them that He was going to suffer “many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.” The operative word here is “suffer.” There was not a promise of perpetual tranquility for those who wish to be Jesus’ disciple, but rather a prediction of suffering.
The idea behind “take up your cross” is one of suffering and burdens. This expression essentially means to bear your burdens. Jesus told them the burdens He was to bear so they would understand what to expect if they followed Him. Taking up His cross, so to speak, would lead Him to the cross.
To follow Jesus, we are thus called to lay aside our own willfulness in order to pursue God’s will and to bear whatever burdens must be borne in order to follow Him faithfully. Daily.
Discipleship is daily. We don’t have days off from discipleship. Each day is a new day for us as His disciples, a day of new opportunity to walk with God, to serve and love others, and – if necessary – suffer for His sake. Each new day, therefore, calls for its own intentionality of commitment.
Lord, As we consider today and the days ahead, help us to be fully aware of Your call for intentionality in our commitment to You, and may we each follow You faithfully, being aware of the cost and willing to pay it. Amen.
Just before Jesus said “if anyone wants to come with Me,” He warned them that He was going to suffer “many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.” The operative word here is “suffer.” There was not a promise of perpetual tranquility for those who wish to be Jesus’ disciple, but rather a prediction of suffering.
The idea behind “take up your cross” is one of suffering and burdens. This expression essentially means to bear your burdens. Jesus told them the burdens He was to bear so they would understand what to expect if they followed Him. Taking up His cross, so to speak, would lead Him to the cross.
To follow Jesus, we are thus called to lay aside our own willfulness in order to pursue God’s will and to bear whatever burdens must be borne in order to follow Him faithfully. Daily.
Discipleship is daily. We don’t have days off from discipleship. Each day is a new day for us as His disciples, a day of new opportunity to walk with God, to serve and love others, and – if necessary – suffer for His sake. Each new day, therefore, calls for its own intentionality of commitment.
Lord, As we consider today and the days ahead, help us to be fully aware of Your call for intentionality in our commitment to You, and may we each follow You faithfully, being aware of the cost and willing to pay it. Amen.
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